Water blessing of the battle flags to take place across Bulgaria on Epiphany

published on 1/6/24 5:10 AM

Photo: BTA

A traditional water blessing of the battle flags and holy flags of the Bulgarian Army will be held on January 6 in all the country's garrisons. The ceremonial ritual in Sofia will take place at 11:00 a.m. in front of the Unknown Warrior Monument in the presence of Defense Minister Todor Tagarev.

For the first time, a water blessing ceremony of the banners was celebrated during the time of Tsar Simeon I before the battle of Acheloi in 917. Until the fall of Bulgaria under the Ottoman rule, a water blessing of the flags was performed before every battle fought by the Bulgarian army. After the Liberation in 1878, the tradition was restored by the first military minister of the Principality of Bulgaria, Piotr Dmitrievich Parensov, and continued until 1946, according to the Ministry of Defense.

After the collapse of the Communist rule, the ritual was restored in 1993.

Since then, every year on Epiphany, in all garrisons, the highest representative of the Bulgarian Orthodox Church in the diocese reads a prayer for health and success, together with the consecration of the battle flags.

Последвайте ни и в Google News Showcase, за да научите най-важното от деня!

Share

Water blessing of the battle flags to take place across Bulgaria on Epiphany

More from category

Colorful tropical emotions await visitors to the Botanical Garden of BAS

Spring-like daytime temperatures

Trade unions expect 'cascade of protests' if state budget not approved

The UK to introduce electronic travel authorisation for EU citizens as of April 2

Flu epidemic in Bulgaria to reach peak in early February

Bulgaria and Ukraine have agreed on their relations in education until 2028